Work support



June 8 1926. 1,587,848

. v F. 1.. M KENZlE WORK SUPPORT Filed July 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8 1926.

F. L. M KENZlE WORK SUPPORT Filed July 5,

1,587,848 F. L. M KENZIE WORK SUPPORT Filed July 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 8 1926.

. Amy. L

Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE.

FRED L. MACKENZIE, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WORK SUPPORT.

Application filed July 5,

This invention relates to work supports and to mechanism for controlling Work supports such, for example, as those used in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and has especial utility in machines for inserting fastenings. It will be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to other types of machines and is capable of utilization in connection with other types of Work supports.

In United States Letters Patent No. 1,417,540, granted May 30, 1922, on an application filed in my name, is disclosed a fastening inserting machine provided with an automatic jack, that is, a work support mechanism that will automatically measure the work when the machine is started and will insure the application of proper pressure to work in accordance with its thickness, the work support disclosed in said Letters Patent being adjusted to variations in thickness of the work practically simultaneously with the application of final pressure thereto.

While this mechanism operated in a very satisfactory manner, there was some vibration or jarring which it was desired to eliminate in order to obtain a smoother running and accordingly longer lived mechanism. This vibration is eliminated in the construction of ti e present invention, while retaining the desired features and advantages of the mechanism of said Letters Patent, No. 1317,51 0, and the mechanism at the same time has been somewhat simplified.

The constructions of said Letters Patent and of the illustrated machine both include a work support carried by a slide mounted for vertical movement in a casing with means for locking the slide and the casing against relative movement. Means is provided operated from a treadle through rod and arranged upon displacement of the treadle and rod momentarily to trip the locking means which connects the slide to the c;...ng, thus permitting the work support to be raised by suitable springs so that the work is presented to the presser plate of the machine. Continued movement of the treadle causes the slide and the casing to be again locked against relative movement and they remain so locked during the continued operation of the machine. In the mechanism herein illustrated the treadle rod by which the locking means is tripped is connected to the locking means through a stud 1924. Serial No. 724,388.

and slot connection which prevents the transmission of vibration or jarring to the treadle as the work support is reciprocated during the pressure releasing movement provided to permit feeding of the work.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be -)ointed out in the appended claims.

n the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a fastening inserting machine equipped with a work support embodying the present invention;

Fig. lv is a fragmentary view showing the relation of the fastening inserting instrumentalities on the machine head to the Work support;

Fig. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of mechanism embodying the invention on an enlarged scale; 7

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of mechanism shown in Fig. 2;and

Figs. l and 5 are details of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

In the following description of the work supporting mechanism it is to be understood that the mechanism is incorporated in a fas tening inserting machine such as that shown in my prior patent above referred to, the machine having a pressure plate or abutment against which the bottom of the shoe is pressed to receive fastenings, and having a cam shaft and means by which certain movements are transmitted to the mechanism herein shown and having a clutch operated by a final depressing movement of a treadle as is usual in such machines.

The pressure plate or abutment against which the shoe is clamped is indicated at 1 in Fig. 1 where also is shown an edge 3 for locating the work with respect to the work feeding and fastening inserting instrument-alities. The work support comprises av spindle 2 carrying a last pin at its upper end and pivoted at 4 on a member 6 for in-and-out moves-nent with respect to the machine. The member 6 is arranged as usual for limited rocking movement transversely of the machine on the upper end of a slide 8 which, when released, can move freely up and down in a casing 10 carried by an upwardly extending support 12. The support 12 is connected to the upper end of a post 14 which can slide longitudinally in a bore in the machine frame 16. The slide 8, when released, is impelled upwardly by a pair of grasshopper springs 18, 20, one at each sideiot the slide, :one end of each being attached to thecasing 10 and the. other end of each to the slide 8.

On one side of the slide 8 is secured a ratchet bar 22 Fig. having downwardly directed teeth normally engaged by a pawl 21 vpivoted at 26 in the casing 10 and forced inwardly a spring plunger 28. Similarly, on the opposite side of the slide 8 is secured a ratchet bar 30 having upwardly directed teeth normally engaged by a pawl 32 pivoted at 3 1 and held inwardly by a Spring plunger 36. The slide 8 is thus held from movement in either direction, the pawl .32 acting, when the support is in work receiving position, to prevent upward movement of the slide 8 and spindle 2 by the springs 18,20,.and the pawl 2 1 acting, when the work is in operative position, to prevent downward movement of the spindle 2 relatively to the casing 10.

The initial movement of an operating treadle 10 is utilized to release the pawls 2st, 32. momentarily to allow the springs 18, 20 to act, the work being thus raised and pressed against the pressure plate provided on the machine to measure the work. Mounted for rotation on an axis 12 in a front plate M of the casing 10 is a cam disk 46 having a series: of oppositely disposed notches 48, one pair of which, in the normal position of the disk, permits the pawls 24:, 32 to vengage respectively the ratchet bars 22, 30. Rotation of the disk 46, however, will cause simultaneous release of the pawls. and if rotation of the disk continues until another pair of notches 18 comes opposite the pawls the release will be momentary. It will be understood from Fig. 3 that the pawls have portions 15 extending laterally beyond the slide 8 which are engaged by the disk 16. The disk 46 has a hub 50 extending forwardly through va hushed hole in the front plated to which is fixed an external ratchet disk 52 having teeth 54 corresponding in number .to the notches in the disk 46. A clamp member '56 is pivoted .to the treadle 10 and in the clamp a rod 58 is held for longitudinal adjustment by a screw 60. The upper end or the rod 58 has an offset 62 having thereon a stud 6 1 which extends into a longitudinal vertical slot 66 in a plate 68 having slots 70 through which cap-screws 72 extend and are threaded into a depending portion 74 ot the casing 10. One edge of the plate 68 abuts against a rib '76 on the portion 7 1. The upper end of the rod 58 is embraced by the bifurcated lower end of a pawl member 78 which is held to the rod by a pivot pin 80. The upper end of the pawl member 78 carries an inwardly projecting stud 82 which, when the member is clamped to the rod 58 by a screw 90.

swung to the left, can engage the teeth 54. of the ratchet disk 52. The member 78 is so swung by a spring plunger 84:, the upper end of which engages a :recess in an arm 88 on the plunger .78 and :the lower end of which can slide freely through a block 86 A loose washer 92 rests on the block 86 and a compression spring 9-1 is arranged on the plunger 84- between the washer 92 and a flange 96 fixed on the plunger. The parts are normally in the position shown in Figv 2. hen the treadle is depressed its initial movement causes the stud 82 on the pawl member 78 to engage one of the teeth 5% and turn the disks 52, #16, causing the pawls 24, 32 to be simultaneously released to permit action of the springs 18, 20 which raise the spindle 2 and the work thereon against the pressure plate 1 of the machine. When the movement of the treadle has turned the disk t6 far enough to bring another pair of the notches 18 opposite the pawls 24k, 32, so that the spindle will be again locked against movement in either direction, a projection 98 on the pawl member 78 engages the curved upper edge 100 of the plate 68 by which the pawl member is swung to the right out of engagement with the ratchet disk 52. The treadle is thus disconnected from the spindle releasing mechanism and the reciprocations imparted to the casing 10 by the movement thereof to release the pressure during feed of the work cannot vibrate or jar the treadle; the spindle releasing mechanism also remains relatively at rest. The plate 68 attached to the casing 10 will, of course, reciprocate therewith but the vertical slot 66 prevents the transn'iission 01 vibration to the treadle.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the lower end 01 the post 14b. is slotted horizontally to receive a block 110 to which is pivoted at 111 a lever 12, the rear end of which is pivoted at 11d to a lever 116 having a fixed fulcrum on the machine frame at 118. The levers 112, 116, during operation of the machine, constitute a single lever of the first class, as will be explained. The lever 116 is bifurcated for the greater portion of its length to receive the rear end of the lever 1.12 and the lever 112 is slotted at 120 to receive the fulcrum shaft 118 of the lever 116. The slot 120 is arced on the center 11% to permit a limited movement of the lever 112 relatively to the shaft 118. The rear end of the level 116 is connected by a toggle 122, 12 1 to a slide 126 guided in a bracket 128 fixed to the frame and forced downwardlyby a strong spring 130, its movement being limited by engagement of astop plate 132 on the slide with the top of the bracket 128. In each cycle 01 the machine a rod 134; is pushed downwardly by a cam to operate a bell-crank lever 136 connected by a link 138 to the joint of the toggle 122, 124. When the toggle is broken rearwardiy, an arm 140 on the toggle link 124 releases pawls 142 on the slide 126 which engage a ratchet plate 144 on the bracket 128 to prevent loss of tension in the spring 130.

In depending portions 150 from the bifurcations of the lever 116 is an eccentric hearing pin 152 on which is pivoted an arm 154 having a lost motion connection to a treadle rod 156. On the arm 154 is a cam 158 arranged to engage roll 160 on a downward projection of the lever 112.

In operation of the machine, the operator places a last and shoe on the spindle 2 and moves it under the abutment 1 of the machine and against the gage 3. He then depresses the treadle far enough to cause the pawls 24, 32 to be released and allow the springs 18, 20 to raise the spindle and press the shoe with light pressure against the abutment. The shoe may now be adjusted, if necessary, with respect to the fastening inserting instrumentalities properly to re ceive the first fastening. Further movement of the treadle, if it has not already been moved far enough for that purpose, allows the pawls 24, 32 again to engage the ratchet bars 22, 30 and lock the spindle against movement in the other direction. The pawl member 7 8 is moved away from the ratchet 54 by engagement with the projection 98 with the surface 100,,thus disconnecting the treadle from the measuring mechanism. This preliminary movement of the treadle has, through the rod 156 and arm 154, moved the cam 158" into en agement with the roll 160 so that, as the movement of the treadle continues, the lever 112 will at first, by movement about its pivot 114, raise the post 14 and press the shoe against the abutment. However, since. the last has already been measured and the shoe pressed against the abutment, the movement of the post 14 will be very slight and the fulcrum of the lever 112 will shift from the pivot 114 to the pivot 111, further action of the cam 158 causing the lever 116 to move on its fulcrum 118 and, through the straightened toggle 122, 124, to raise the slide 126 against the pressure of the spring 130 which is heavy enough to support the work against the action of the fastening inserting instrumentalities. hen the treadle has been depressed far enough to bring the highest part of the cam 158 beneath the roll 160 the lower end of the slot 120 in the, lever 112 will be pressed against the lower side of the shaft 118 (the eccentric bearing 152 being properly adjusted for this purpose) and the two levers 112 and 116 will then constitute a single lever acting on the shaft 118 as a fulcrum. A final movement of the treadle acts through the rod 161 to start the machine. During operation of the machine,

. tain the slide 126 in the position to which it was moved by the application of pressure to the work, the tension on the spring 130 being thus retained. Further breaking of the toggle 122, 124 operates through the levers 112, 116, acting as a single lever, to lower the post 14 and relieve the upward pressure on the work during the feed of the work. After the feed has been effected the toggle 122, 124 is again straightened, the pawls 142 released and the pressure of the spring 130 applied to the work, the slide 126 and the work support assuming a new posi tion if the thickness ofth-e work at the portion now clamped is different from the thickness of the portion previously clamped.

It is desirable that the head of the machine be adjustable laterally with respect to the work support since the relative position of these parts affects the direction of ins-ertion of the fastening and the manner in which it clinches. In Figs. 1 and 4 a convenient construction for effecting the adjustment is shown. The top of the column 162 of the machine and the machine head 164 are held together by b0lts'"166. Between the head 164 and the column 162 are two plates 168 and 170, the upper one being doweled to the head and the lower one to the column. The plates extend laterally beyond the col umn and head (Fig. 4). In the lower plate are bolt holes in which bolts 172 fit and are held from rotation by keys 174. Loose upon each bolt is an eccentric 176 which can be rotated relatively to the bolt 172 by a hexagonal portion 178. The eccentrics 17 6 are seated in slots 180 of the upper plate 168, the slots extending laterally of the machine. By loosening the bolts 166 and turning one or the other of the eccentrics 176 the upper plate and the machine head will be swung about the other eccentric bolt 172 as a center. By adjusting both eccentrics a forward and rearward bodily adjustment of the head may be effected. When proper adjustment is secured the bolts 166 and 172 are set up tight.

At times it is desirable to maintain the spring 130 under tension while parts of the machine are being removed. The spring 180 is arranged between, the top of the column and a block 182 threaded on a rod 184 which rests in a recess on the head of a screw 186 threaded into the slide 126. The rod 184 extends up into the lower portion of the head 164 which is provided with a t ans verse hole 188 intersecting the rod 184, the rod having a hole 190 which may be broughtinto alinement with the hole 188 by compression of the spring 130. By putting work in the machine and depressing the treadle. the spring will be compressed and the holes 188, 190 brought into alinement. A pin is then passed through the holes to hold the spring compressed and the work released. Parts 01" the mechanism connected with the spring, for example the bracket 128 which carries the slide 126, may be removed for adjustment or replacement and put back without having to compress the spring 1-30.

I-Iav thus-described my invention, lv'lltlt I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States is:

1. In a machine or the class described, work support, work measuring means, work clamping means, manually op rated ans for operating the ineasin" j ns and the clamping means in succession, and connections between said manually operated means and said measuring means constructed and arranged to prevent the transmission of vibration to said manually operated means.

2. Ina machine of the class described, a work abutment against which the work may be clamped, a work support movable between work receiving "and work clamping positions, manually operated means for moving the work support toward said abutment to apply final clamping pressure, means initially connected with said manual means for measuring the work prior to the application of final pressure, and means becoming operalive-during the application oi final clamping pressure for disconnecting sa id initially connected means from the measuring means.

3. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting spindle, a slide carrying the spindle, oppositely disposed pawls for locking the slide from movement in either direction, rotary means for simultaneously and iomentarily releasing the pawls from the slide, a spring for elevating the slide when released, an operating treadlc, a treadle rod, and a pawl pivoted directly to the trcadle rod acting to rotate said rotary means during initial movement of the treadle and passing out of contact with the rotary means during subsequent movement of the treadle.

In a machine of the class described, a work supporting spindle, a spindle carrying slide, a casing for the slide, means normally locking the slide against movement in either direction relatively to its casing, spring means for raising the slide when released, a treadle, means movable to release said locking means to permit action of the spring, a pawl movable by the treadle to operate the releasing means, and means for moving the pawl out of engagement with the releasing means after a predetermined movement of the treadle, said means for moving the pawl being adjustable to vary the time in the movement of the treadle when the pawl is moved out of engagement with the releasing 5. I=n.-a machine of the class described, a work supporting spindle, a spindle carrying slide, a casing for the slide, means normally locking the slide against movement in either direction relatively to its casing, spring means for raising the slide when released, a treadlejtor starting the machine, power operated means for imparting vibratory movements to said casing during operation on the work, releasing means operated by initial movement of the treadle prior to starting the machine for releasing said locking means to permit action of said spring and for allowing the locking means again to lock the slide in its new position, said releasing means becoming operatively disconnected from the locking means during continued movement of the 'treadle to start the machine so that vibratory movements of the casing cannot be imparted to the readlc.

6. In a machine of the class described, an abutment against which the work is presented, a work supporting spindle, a casing supporting the spindle and relatively to which it is moved to present the work to the abutment, a light spring for so moving the spindle, locking means for preventing movement of the spindle relatively to the casing in either direction, a heavy spring for sustaining the casing during operation on the work, power means for relieving the action of said heavy spring on the casing during teed ot' the work, and manual means operating by continued movement in the same direction, first momentarily to release said locking means to measure the work, then to apply pressure through said heavy spring to clamp the work against the abutment and then to start the machine, said manual means becoming cisconnected from the loc ring means after release therefrom to prevent power movement of the casing from being transmitted 'tothe manual means during power operation of the machine.

7. In a machine of the class described, a work support, a slide carrying said work support, a casing for the slide, means for locking the slide against movement relatively to the casing, a rod connected thereto, a pawl carried by the rod and arranged by displacement or the treadle momentarily to unlock the slide from its casing, a stud carried by the rod and received in a guide car ried by the casing, and means for disconnecting the paw from said locking means during the continued movement of the treadle.

8. In a .n achine of the class described, a work support, a slide carrying said work support, a casing for the slide, means for locking the slide against movement relatively to the casing, a treadle, a rod connected thereto, a pawl carried by the rod and arranged by displacement of the treadle. momentarily to unlock the slide from its casing, a stud carried by the rod and received in a guide carried by the casing, and means for disconnecting the pawl from said look ing means after said momentary unlocking of the slide from its casing.

9. In a machine of the class described, a work support movable between work-receiving and work-clamping positions, a spring tending to move the work support toward work-clamping position, means for locking the work support against movement by said spring, a treadle, means controlled by said treadle for momentarily releasing said locking means as the treadle is displaced comprising a rod connected at one end to the treadle and carrying at the other end a pawl arranged to engage a part of said locking means, and a guide for the end of the rod remote from the treadle arranged to permit substantially rectilinear endwis- "movement of said rod and to prevent any other movement thereof.

10. In a machine of the class described, a work support movable between work-receiving and work-clamping positions, a spring tending to move the work support toward work-clamping position, means for locking the work support against movement by said spring, a treadle, means controlled by said treadle for momentarily releasing said looking means and then applying said locking means during continued movement of the treadle comprising a rod connected at one end of the treadle and carrying at the other end a pawl arranged to engage a part of said locking means, and a straight guide slot arranged to receive a stud carried by the rod to permit endwise movement of said rod but to prevent any other movement thereof.

11. In a machine of the class described, a work support, a slide and a casing therefor carrying said work support, means for locking-the slide against movement relatively to the casing, means for momentarily releasing said locking means comprising a treadle, a rod connected thereto, a pawl carried by the rod and engaging a part of said locking means, a plate provided with a straight slot arranged to guide said rod thereby permitting only substantially rectilinear movement of said rod, and an adjustable cam arranged to engage said pawl as the treadle is displaced to release said pawl from the locking means.

12. In a machine of the class described, a work support, a slide carrying said work support, a casing for said slide, means for locking the slide againstmovement relatively to the casing, means for momentarily releasing said locking means comprising a treadle, a rod connected thereto, a pawl carried by the rod and engaging a part of said locking means, a plate adjustably carried by said casing provided with a straight slot arranged to engage a stud carried by said rod thereby permitting only substantially rectilinear movement of said treadl rod, and a cam carried by said plate arranged to engage said pawl as the treadle is displaced to release said pawl from the locking means.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an abutment, a work supportmovable to clamp the work against the abutment, a heavy spring through which clamping pressure is applied to the work, and means operable to prevent reaction of the spring when the machine is at rest.

1e. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame having an abutment, a work support movable to clamp the work against the abutment, a spring plunger mounted in the frame, and manually operated means for moving the support and clamping the work by action of said plunger, the plunger and frame having holes which are in alinement when the work is clamped and through which a tool may be placed to prevent movement of the plunger when the work is removed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED L. MACKENZIE. 

